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04-29-2010, 03:00 PM
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#81
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 7,968
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Nothing. Absolutely nothing! In the following sense - max deduct 401 ala Ben Graham and Bogle - ballpark 60/40 index 500/fixed - and partied til I puked - just kidding - however I did live thirty years in New Orleans - need I say more.
Studing investing, reading books, legend in my own mind stock picking, rental RE,and 'slice and and dice' /AAII/going to chapter meetings in the end amounted to a picture of warm spit - getting ahead wise.
Back at the ranch - the part I wasn't looking at on full auto deduct (401k) became the the horse I rode in on - trumping everything else.
At age 49 getting layed off - I became a 'unemployed' really cheap SOB and as luck would have it - it was the 90's. A little severance pay, about a yrs temp work all told, sell and consume the rental proceeds - a small pension at 55, SS at 62 - badda bing, badda boom pretty soon an old poop at 66.
heh heh heh - hindsight being what it is - I still have trouble grasping how stone simple it is - I sometimes post 'don't read books' over Bogleheads which goes over like 'you know what in the punch bowl.' Read one paragraph of Bogle on why index funds work, take the leap of faith and auto invest, stay the course. Then ignore investing (unless it's your day job) and then go do life. When the time comes to retire - then retire.
I never listened - nor do I expect anyone else - we gotta redo it every generation.
Saints finally won the Superbowl and Jazz Fest this weekend.
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04-29-2010, 04:11 PM
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#82
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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Since I've spent most of my life drinking and chasing women, it would have to be buying that lottery ticket.
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04-29-2010, 04:16 PM
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#83
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 35,712
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Sure you chased, but how many have you caught?
Or was it that you got caught?
__________________
"Old age is the most unexpected of all things that happen to a man" -- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
"Those Who Can Make You Believe Absurdities Can Make You Commit Atrocities" - Voltaire (1694-1778)
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04-29-2010, 04:20 PM
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#84
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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04-29-2010, 05:30 PM
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#85
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,323
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Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer
I'm not married, no kids of my own, but plenty of nieces and nephews. I too agree that there is no value (not even ER) that can be traded for the joy children.
I got a brother one year older than me. We were always really close, and am til this day. As kids we did everything together (many considered us twins). As we got older, we took different paths. He got married, 4 beautiful daughters, got divoriced, remarried. With all the child support payments he'll probably work his entire life or until he just can't work anymore. On the otherhand, I've (so far at least ) remained a bachelor, no kids, house paid off, had a good job, been able to ER.
Yet, in the end...who has had a better life? The joy of kicking back and treating everyday like Saturday or the joy of knowing four beautiful daughters of his own and a stepdaughter that think the world of their dad?
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I had an older, wiser women tell me when I was 25 that there were the joys of being single and there were joys in being married. I think the same rule applies to having children. Think it's pretty much 6 of one and half dozen of another, not for everybody and a personal decision.
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04-29-2010, 05:53 PM
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#86
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 388
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Emeritus
(...) marry a Doctor. So I did. Picked the right girl, she needed a cook. (...) She owns 9 cameras and 7 computers. (did I say she is a techie?)
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Sounds like you hit the lottery! Geek girls rule.
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04-29-2010, 08:40 PM
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#87
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 11,401
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My single best move to get where I am today was to take maximum advantage of my parents' offer to pay for my university tuition by choosing medical school. No BA for me!
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05-01-2010, 07:13 PM
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#88
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Confused about dryer sheets
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 3
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I listened when someone told me to "look at people who have what you want, watch how they do it and then do it yourself." I read that most of the wealthy people in America did it with real estate. That was 20 ys ago.
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05-02-2010, 09:58 AM
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#89
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Smith
Posts: 743
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Listened to the guy at my job that encouraged me to stick with it. I had just short of 5 years in and was making about $20,000 a year. He told me that if I stuck it out I could take my pension in 25 years, 20 if I bought 5 years. I listened. I bought my five years for a ridiculously low amount and worked 20 more years eventually becoming a project manager. I retire in July of this year. It wasn't always fun, but to be able to retire at 43 it was worth it.
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05-02-2010, 10:10 AM
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#90
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Duesseldorf, Germany
Posts: 1,202
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- Learned very early to save minimum 15% of every paycheck and to put it out of sight.
- Found fun in tracking expenses and setting up a monthly balance sheet on net value.
- Found DH (30 years ago) who is very compatible in terms of saving and spending - and, most important, is a wonderful person.
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05-08-2010, 04:26 PM
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#91
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Chicago
Posts: 13,151
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Well........ Maybe if they can also back a trailer and drive a Bobcat.
__________________
"I wasn't born blue blood. I was born blue-collar." John Wort Hannam
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05-11-2010, 02:03 PM
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#92
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 44
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An adult needs only one meal a day and a tent to survive. Everything else is optional. Once you realize this, you can ER any day of the week.
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05-11-2010, 02:15 PM
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#93
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 388
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oilspill
An adult needs only one meal a day and a tent to survive. Everything else is optional. Once you realize this, you can ER any day of the week.
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That goes for me and you, but my girlfriend refuses to accept that it applies to her!
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05-11-2010, 02:45 PM
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#94
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Collin County, TX
Posts: 9,294
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oilspill
An adult needs only one meal a day and a tent to survive. Everything else is optional. Once you realize this, you can ER any day of the week.
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Eh heh...everything else is optional?...not in my world...
__________________
There's no need to complicate, our time is short..
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05-11-2010, 03:09 PM
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#95
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,773
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oilspill
An adult needs only one meal a day and a tent to survive. Everything else is optional. Once you realize this, you can ER any day of the week.
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Some people need tents? Sissies
Serilously, welcome to the board, oilspill. Feel free to tell us more about yourself on our Hi, I am forum: Hi, I am... - Early Retirement & Financial Independence Community
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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05-11-2010, 05:25 PM
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#96
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cruisinthru
I picked the right spouse!
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Right! As a side note, we have the following list hanging in our bathroom for our kids to read (and reread and reread). 21 Suggestions for Success by H Jackson Brown, Jr.. Here's the first item on the list.
"#1 Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery."
Also, I planned my career. First, I invested in an education better than most of my peers; second, I took strategic jobs to gain broad-based experience as well as specialized expertise; finally (and only then), I took strategic jobs to make the best money, with some necessary risks mixed in. All this planning only created an opportunity though....the biggest factor here was a strong dose of luck that eventually put me close enough to ER.
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05-11-2010, 07:53 PM
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#97
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,682
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmcc
Right! As a side note, we have the following list hanging in our bathroom for our kids to read (and reread and reread). 21 Suggestions for Success by H Jackson Brown, Jr.. Here's the first item on the list. "#1 Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery."
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I would argue that before you make this decision, you need to decide if you ever want to get married. Many people these days are happier remaining unmarried, so simply deciding not to marry will often be the one which makes those people the happiest.
I am not married, and at 47 I doubt very much I will ever marry. I enjoy the freedom of being unmarried the same way I enjoy the freedom of being ER.
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05-12-2010, 06:26 AM
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#98
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Dryer sheet aficionado
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scrabbler1
I would argue that before you make this decision, you need to decide if you ever want to get married. Many people these days are happier remaining unmarried, so simply deciding not to marry will often be the one which makes those people the happiest.
I am not married, and at 47 I doubt very much I will ever marry. I enjoy the freedom of being unmarried the same way I enjoy the freedom of being ER.
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No argument from me on your point. A couple of observations though. I think marriage is best for most people (this generalization may get me from flak but I believe there is evidence for it). I also believe having kids is best for many people, but I'm hesitant to say most. When it comes to reaching ER though, where the right like-minded spouse is a great help, there is no doubt kids make it harder.
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05-12-2010, 06:47 AM
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#99
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 886
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Lots of very fine people do not have children. I have no idea if Marriage/and or children is "better", but unquestionably those who do raise children are in effect "paying back" the cost of their own upbringing by supporting the next generation.
I do get incredibly irritated when those who for whatever reason do not have children grouse about the public cost of supporting the next generation, as if children are a personal consumer product. Such grousers are classic "free riders" who were happy to take but are unwilling to give.
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05-12-2010, 07:09 AM
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#100
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,682
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mmcc
No argument from me on your point. A couple of observations though. I think marriage is best for most people (this generalization may get me from flak but I believe there is evidence for it). I also believe having kids is best for many people, but I'm hesitant to say most. When it comes to reaching ER though, where the right like-minded spouse is a great help, there is no doubt kids make it harder.
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I strongly disagree with the bolded text. Many people have kids who have no business having them. They have kids simply because they think they "should," as if it were simply expected of them by friends, family, or society at large. They end up making terrible parents, inflicting their bad parenting and badly raised offspring on the rest of society to deal with. On the contrary, how many childfree people regret not having kids? By definition, being childfree means not ever wanting to have kids. Childfree people such as myself have thought this through and know it is the best decision for us.
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